§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's36W Government will assign a full-time ambassador to Nicaragua, based in Managua; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have no plans to make further appointments to the embassy in Managua for the time being, but diplomatic staffing levels at all posts overseas are kept under review.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to visit Nicaragua.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been(a) the staffing and (b) the running costs of Her Majesty's embassy in Nicaragua in each year since 1979.
§ Mrs. Chalker(a) There was no resident diplomatic staff at Her Majesty's embassy, Managua from 1979 to 1984. A resident chargé d'affaires was appointed in mid-1984. A second secretary was appointed in late 1986, and a third secretary in February 1988. In addition, Her Majesty's ambassador at San Jose, and three/four members of his diplomatic staff have been and continue to be accredited to Managua. A defence attaché and a first secretary are accredited from Panama City.
(b) Since the embassy at Managua is supervised by that in San Jose, the two posts are accounted for jointly. Because many members of the embassy at San Jose have dual accreditation, it is difficult to isolate those costs pertaining only to Managua. The total costs for San Jose since 1983 (the earliest year for which the figures are available) have ranged from around £300,000 to around £500,000 of which we estimate that about 25 per cent. is attributable to Managua.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits have been made to Nicaragua by Her Majesty's ambassador accredited to that country in each year since 1979.
§ Mrs. ChalkerApproximate figures since 1982, the earliest year for which figures are available, are as follows:
Visits 1982 4 1983 7 1984 6 1985 9 1986 5 1987 16 1988 4 1 And one by charge in San Jose.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealfh Affairs what has been the cost in each year for travel by Her Majesty's ambassador to Nicaragua from Costa Rica.
§ Mrs. ChalkerEstimated figures since 1982, the earliest year for which figures are available, are:
37W
£ 1982 828.87 1983 2,523.94 1984 2,754.87
£ 1985 2,576.04 1986 1,466.71 1987 1 1,622.14 1988 1,456.54 1 Plus £400 for one visit by charge.